Nettleton’s
Addition/The West Central Neighborhood
For many years, there have been sporadic
white settlers in the Spokane region long before there were official
settlements, but in 1873 James Nettle Glover founded what would become the city
of Spokane. (Heritage Walk, n.d.) “The
natural resources of Eastern Washington – fertile soil, timber, and mineral
wealth- eventually attracted more settlers to the area. “ (Heritage Walk) Along with the expanding railroads, this
caused Spokane to boom not long after its initial inception. According to the City of Spokane’s historical
timeline, in 1900 “the population of Spokane was 36,848; an 85% increase over
ten years. There were 300 manufacturing
concerns, 108 saloons, 56 churches, 2,500 telephones and 42 miles of roadway.”
(City of Spokane, n.d.) William
Nettleton took note of this potential growth and purchased land from the
Northern Pacific Railroad in 1887. “His
timing couldn't have been better. The little hamlet of Spokane Falls was
entering a boom in the 1880s as the railroads arrived and inflated the value of
the lands they crossed.” (Schreiner, 2005)
Right from its beginning, “Nettleton’s Addition” experienced a boom,
just as the city of Spokane. “This early
Spokane streetcar suburb documents perfectly the life cycle of American cities:
initial rapid development (over 70% of the existing housing stock was built
prior to 1910), slow decline through the mid-Twentieth Century and now, urban
renewal and gentrification.” (Historic Preservation Office, n.d.) Therefore, not long after Spokane’s story
began, the story of the West Central neighborhood began as well. Just as the city of Spokane has experienced a
time of renewal, Nettleton’s Addition (or West Central as it is more commonly
known) has had others focus on renewing the neighborhood over the last decades
through a focus on the “Kendall Yards.”
“For more than two decades,
speculators have been counting on the economic boost that would result from
developing the barren, 78-acre former rail yard now known as Kendall Yards.”
(Walters, 2012) This area which once
represented the boom in housing and booming economy of not only the
neighborhood, but greater Spokane as well has become a housing project that
caters not to the poor in providing affordable housing, but to the middle and
upper class in providing high priced condominiums and townhomes. As a result, the price of housing has
increased and pushed further financial burdens on residents. “Many people who live in the West Central
neighborhood struggle financially.
Kendall Yards is causing housing speculation, increasing rents and
taxes, and will eventually force people out of their houses.” (Summit-Bridge
Alliance, n.d.) Though this view might
seem pessimistic, there is truth found within the words as this seems to be
simply a challenging form of development which the neighborhood will have
difficulty sustaining. Adding 4,000
residents would not meet some of the greatest needs, but further separate the
socio-economic classes and create greater financial burdens on the materially
poor. As the Kendall Yards project has
brought the potential of urban renewal with the potential of increased
difficulty, there have also been city regulations which have harnessed micro-development
within the neighborhood. With many
zoning issues preventing businesses from moving in or further establishing
rental properties, there is little room for economic development within the
neighborhood, let alone investment from those who live there, as West Central
Neighborhood Council President Kelly Cruz states: “Renters often don’t invest
in their neighborhoods, nor do absentee landlords.” (Walters, 2012) Though there is a desire to further develop
the neighborhood in positive ways, regulations appear to be a hindrance while
the demographics of the neighborhood reveal a state of poverty.
According to the 2010 national
census, the 99201 zip code (which is primarily comprised of the West Central
neighborhood) is 82.2% White. Of the
households represented, only 31.1% are considered “family households” while
only 16.9% are considered “husband-wife family.” 23.4% of the homes are owner-occupied leaving
76.6% rentals. (www.zip-codes.com, 2010) According to another site, only approximately
17% of the population has received a Bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to
approximately 25% for the city of Spokane as a whole. The median household income is $24,918 while greater
Spokane’s is $38,939. (www.city-data.com, 2009) The statistics on median income are somewhat
skewed as there are some areas of the neighborhood where houses are sold for
anything from $500,000 to $1,000,000 with other areas selling homes for less
than $50,000. Housing prices betray a greater diversity in the population,
particularly along socio-economic lines.
This makes the West Central neighborhood one of the poorest in the state
as well as one of the most diverse. It
is from the majority population of the neighborhood and the sorrowful moniker
it has received as a result (Felony Flats according to Wikipedia and many
Spokane natives) that there is such a great need for poverty alleviation:
specifically relational poverty, though there is almost as much material
poverty as well.
Facts
from Opinions
With the neighborhood’s history and
demographics in mind, my proposed holistic ministry is centered upon an unused
portion of one of Christ the Redeemer Church’s (CTR) buildings. Previously, this area was used as a “Launderette”
that was not affiliated with CTR. In
order to begin to understand what the need is for the West Central neighborhood
and how CTR and this storefront are uniquely equipped to meet those needs, thirteen
people in three different community roles were interviewed. Four people were interviewed from CTR, three
people were interviewed from neighboring Churches and organizations and six
people who lived or worked in the neighborhood were also interviewed. The responses varied from person to person
(even within the CTR leadership) and greatly varied from group to group. Even though many were interviewed, in order
to gain a more complete and accurate understanding of what would be most useful
in this area, much more time and many more interviews would be needed. A look at zoning and non-profit laws would
also need to be further explored to fully comprehend how CTR is allowed to use
the storefront. The first round of
interviews to be considered will be of those who live or work in the
neighborhood. The group consisted of
males and females ranging from their early twenties to their sixties.
Neighbors
If a person were to, choose a Spokane
neighborhood and drive around without knowing much of its socioeconomic status
or demographics, there would be a few neighborhoods that would make the person
think of high crime rates. Much of
Spokane could be considered to have a similar feel in regards to cleanliness
and safety, though the neighborhoods have distinct “personalities.” Comparing the neighborhoods, the actual crime
statistics are startlingly close (COSGIS, n.d.), but one neighborhood would
stand out with an environment that speaks beyond statistics and makes one
assume that the crime rate is higher than anywhere: West Central. Though statistically it is not, the mentality
of its residents and the view of those who drive by on the thoroughfares is
that the West Central neighborhood is simply unsafe. This in turn almost creates a
“self-fulfilling prophecy” where few are willing to create change and better
environments. Fear drives the mood, and
it shows. As people are less and less
willing to overcome their fears, they become victims and neglect the
neighborhood itself, particularly in the form of their houses. As previously noted, the vast majority of
residents in the neighborhood are renters and consequently do not invest. With many of the houses having hit their
Centennial in the last decade, they are in need of much greater care than they
receive. When renters live in fear and
are consequently unable and/or unwilling to invest in even their own house and
its upkeep, the perception of crime abounds.
Therefore, a few of those interviewed mentioned the crime rate and lack
of police presence as the greatest need of the neighborhood. When this
fear abounds, a lack of community also becomes prevalent. When one is afraid of their neighborhood,
their neighbors become objects of fear by association. The poor state of the houses, roads and safe
sidewalks then become outward expressions of the inward fear, further preventing
community as it drives many to not seek relationships outside of the family
units. Coupled with a distinct lack of
economic development in the form of markets and other job-producing machines,
the public and private infrastructure also prevents active community.
Looking at what the “neighbors” desired
to see the storefront used for, the ideas were somewhat stunted. Admittedly, the majority had not had an
opportunity to wrestle with and formulate an attentive answer; a few were able
to provide thoughtful answers. The most
common response was a restaurant or coffee shop. Though these were particularly less insightful
(they were interviewed within 100 yards of coffee shop), they told of a need
for a common place for people to congregate.
Other responses included a social service resource center or a market
but a general consensus was that it must meet two criteria: it must be based on
the needs of the community and must be “user friendly.” Those who simply worked in the community or
who were strategically living in West Central saw the potential this small
storefront could have in enriching the lives of those who would be served in
its final form. Perhaps this has
something to do with this sub-group being largely represented by people who look
at their own involvement as an avenue for personal ministry while the majority
of those who simply lived in the neighborhood, either by choice or
circumstance, were seeking material purposes for the storefront. When the idea of bringing a “Launderette” back
into the space was suggested, there was again, a general consensus of this
being a good idea though none had personally utilized it previously and few had
heard of it having served this purpose before.
Even though this was not the initial thought for many, it does not
negate that this could be a highly effective use of the storefront as it would
generally meet a need since the nearest laundry service is across the river and
in another neighborhood entirely. Those
involved in ministries and businesses operating within the West Central
neighborhood then follow in similar thinking regarding needs and possible uses
of the space as well.
Local Partners
From an outsider’s perspective,
relationships, housing and development topped the list as the greatest needs of
the West Central neighborhood. Working
and living in the West Central neighborhood, they see the eye sores that are
beautiful Victorian houses disguised by dirt and garbage yards with broken car
lawn ornaments. The potential of newer
development is then seen in the next block or even the very next house that
sports new siding and a coat of paint. Regretfully,
the beauty is overpowered by inconsistency and dilapidation. In the labyrinth of the beautiful surrounded
by the ugly, there is also a distinct lack of fruitful and positive
businesses. Many in this group focused
on the need of better housing options, either in fixing the houses in disrepair
or in having landlords who are simply present.
If nothing else, a dilapidated house can serve an owner through tax
benefits, leaving little need for them to express care and concern for
tenants. As a result, many of the houses
stay dilapidated and when tenants are unable to pay their rent, their worldly
possessions are moved to the curb. Not
all landlords and homeowners are absent or uncaring though. Some have attempted to relinquish dilapidated
houses to pave the way for a corner market, the afore mentioned zoning laws
subsequently squelch any efforts to bring about the positive developments that
could not only bring an avenue to supply needs, but also jobs. As one interviewee stated, “Food is
empowering to impoverished people.” (P. Lee, personal communication, 2012) Mr. Lee went on to describe that food equates
to a grocery store or corner market, which then equates to the money needed to
purchase said food. As many do not have
the means to make such purchases, they incur debt. Mr. Lee then pointedly described debt as
slavery. This description is powerful
and well heeded as the cause is not a lack of money but a lack of relationships,
but as Corbett and Fikkert described, material poverty is often a symptom while
poverty of relationships is the underlying cause. (Corbett and Fikkert,
2009) This explains why so many
interviewed in this group pointed to relationships as being such a great need:
they recognized it as a type of poverty itself.
(On a side note, one of those involved in a youth ministry had read and
highly recommended Corbett and Fikkert’s work, as was evidenced in some of his
viewpoints while others had developed similar views through their own reading
or interactions.)
When asked the about what could be done
with the storefront, the need to explain the purpose of the interview proved
itself to be an influencer in the solicited response. All of the responses lacked a concrete theme
and what was lacking in concrete ideas of what would work were a few ideas on
what would not work, like social services from a Church. Through other interactions, it was discovered
that many organizations offer social services in various forms, but few are
actually utilized. The specific reasons
as to why this is are unknown, but it is an important point to remember while
formulating a plan for what would be beneficial in the storefront. Beyond this keen suggestion, the interviewees
suggested the storefront serve as a viable business, not simply a place of
charity, and be user friendly. Perhaps
another reason the suggestions coming from this group were not as creative as
hoped, attributes to a lack of knowledge of CTR and its building. Regretfully,
the building with the storefront in question mirrors many of the houses in the
neighborhood as it has fallen under disrepair.
Additionally, there have been limited partnerships in reaching the
people in the neighborhood. Finally, the
suggestions on how to utilize the space were possibly stunted because of the
answers describing the needs of the neighborhood and the focus on a social justice,
as opposed to the Gospel.
Christ the
Redeemer
Those interviewed as part of this
last group consisted of a pastor, a current and a former elder as well as two
parishioners of Christ the Redeemer Church.
Despite the variety of those interviewed, the answer to what is most
needed in the West Central neighborhood had a distinct commonality:
Christ. When it comes to CTR (and some
other Churches and organizations in the area), the purpose of anything must be
centered on Christ, what He has done through His sacrifice and the hope that
salvation through Him brings. It is
through this lens that the needs of the West Central neighborhood are
interpreted amongst CTR’s leadership and members. It is recognized that this is
not the only need, but it is the most important and it affects all other needs
of the neighborhood. Beyond addressing
the greatest needs of the neighborhood, the rest of this interview plays its
greatest role in shaping the ministry plan aimed at empowering the people of
the West Central neighborhood.
The
Launderette
The most effective and long-lasting
way to bring positive, Gospel-centered change to an entire neighborhood is
microscopically: one relationship at a time.
Through purposeful relationships, there is a potential to not simply
“speak at” the neighborhood or to provide a service that will not be taken
advantage of, but to speak to the needs of a single person or serve their
immediate circle, all while speaking and showing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and
the hope that his second coming provides. Beyond relationships (which will be
explained in more detail), the chief purpose of the Launderette will be to meet
a tangible need in the neighborhood, namely providing a safe place to
congregate and a clean laundry facility.
Aside from a bar and a coffee shop, there are precious few areas for
community connection. The West Central
Community Center offers a wide variety of programs, most being geared towards
children and people with disabilities, and the Youth for Christ building is
aimed solely at middle and high school students, which means that this Launderette
will need to meet a less formal need in providing opportunities for community
growth. Finally, the Launderette will have its broadest impact meeting the need
of a coin-operated laundry facility; there simply are none in or immediately
accessible to the neighborhood.
Therefore, the Launderette will focus on small-scale relationships,
providing a safe place to congregate and being a clean laundry facility.
Relationship
The relationships will be the focus
from before the re-opening. One tendency
the people and leadership of CTR have is to get a job done. With two of the three pastors having spent
time working construction, their exuberance will need to be harnessed in order
to invite one or two men from the community to temporarily work with one or two
men from CTR in hopes of building a relationship. Some of the greatest relationships can be
built by working with another person and some of the greatest opportunities to
explain who Christ is and what He has done can be described through sweat and
blood (I am a clumsy person). Upon
completion of the construction phase, the next round of relationship begins
through the hiring of a local person to work part-time at the Launderette. This
person would be chosen based on another ministry that CTR has called “Tots and
Co.” where moms congregate for a time where there children can safely play
together while they interact and purposeful relationships are built. Through this, a few would be invited to apply
and interview. Help would be offered in
writing a résumé, preparing for an interview and interview tips in
general. The person (or persons
depending on ultimate availability and how busy the Launderette is) would be
hired part time and work closely with someone from CTR’s leadership, slowly
working on proper work ethic and, after some time, a relationship with
Christ. The hope would be that the
person hired would develop a lasting relationship while learning a good work
ethic that could be used to pursue a higher paying job down the road. It would be this relationship that would be
the crux of this ministry where on a small scale a person is challenged, taught
and encouraged. From this relationship,
other relationships may be built through continued presence and opportunities
offered to the congregation to volunteer at the Launderette, offering services
associated with the coin-operated laundry business and, slowly, building
relationships with Christ as the focus.
These volunteers would be trained to present the “Two Ways to Live”
Gospel presentation (Matthias Media, 2003) as well as scheduled at times when
other ministries are happening so that they might encourage patrons to attend
while they offer to watch their laundry for them. In all of these situations, the Gospel will
be the first thing on the mind of CTR members but will not be the first thing
spoken. It takes a long time to be able
to have a relationship enough with a broken person so that they might be willing
to accept the Gospel.
Community
As the West Central Community Center
and other organizations offer many social services, CTR would not need to get
into this area for a while, if ever.
What could be a potential use of the Launderette would be a safe place
to congregate. As noted earlier, there
are precious few areas where people might gather and feel safe. The lone coffee shop located just yards from
CTR was originally thought to meet this need, but has turned into an area for
Christians and other local people from the area to congregate, not necessarily
those who most need a sense of positive community. As a result, a safe place such as a laundry
facility could easily meet these needs, and eventually be further developed by
offering some classes at set times.
These classes could be determined based on the strengths of CTR and the
local partners (other ministries and businesses in the area). The owner of the coffee shop could
potentially speak on proper résumé writing and interviewing techniques. A local urban farmer could teach a class on
proper gardening or ways and benefits to raising chickens. There could also be some cooking classes
based on healthy meal preparation.
Regardless, these classes would not be a primary goal, but could be done
in the space next to the Launderette and would be considered if the need proves
itself to be present. If this does
happen, it would offer the greatest opportunity for partnerships and a cohesive
ministry between Churches with fundamental differences in approaches to
ministry. What precedes the classes and
stems from the community is relationship, but all aspects are contingent upon a
clean laundry facility.
Laundry Facility
The greatest and farthest reaching
resource of the Launderette will be its practical way to meet a need within the
community. By existing, people will be
able to not travel so far to wash their clothes. As stated before, the nearest laundry service
is located across the river, .7 miles away from CTR according to Google
Maps. When it comes to costs, the Launderette
would not be free, but would have freedom to be low cost as it only needs to
meet operating costs, not create a profit margin. This would make it a popular location further
made convenient by being located on a major bus route. From this point alone, it would be a ministry
that promotes dignity as it meets tangible needs. A community board would sit in one area,
allowing services to be offered, items to be sold and jobs to be posted. Free Wi-Fi would be available as well and
promotions would happen regularly, supported by the income of the Launderette
and partnerships with local ministries and businesses. The overall environment of the Launderette
would then set itself apart in cleanliness, activities and, mostly, by Christ
being the center and purpose of everything.
Conclusion
Through lengthy research and
interviews, the conclusion comes that a laundry facility would serve the West
Central neighborhood well by meeting a need: a laundry facility. By intentionally creating relationships that
are centered on Christ and microscopically focused as opposed to attempting to
create deep relationships with the masses, few will be greatly influenced as
opposed to many being marginally influenced.
These relationships will also have a focus of empowering the few to work
and become self-advocates. By
potentially providing classes aimed at empowering, educating and supporting
greater numbers of people, a large-scale of people would be able to learn some
of the basics in acquiring jobs, budgeting and hearing about Christ’s love for
them. Coupled with intentional outreach
from CTR members that could allow patrons to attend ministry events, greater,
less focused relationships could begin allowing avenues for deeper relationships
in other ways. Finally, free Wi-Fi a
community board, special promotions and a safe place could further draw people
in, giving them opportunity to meet their neighbors and build community.
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